It’s that time again. Once every four years, Americans put their differences aside and come together to do the one thing that ensures we keep our differences – voting! Technically, it’s not just a four-year commitment – a lot of people do this every two years. And believe it or not, there are some pedantic folks who actually cast their vote every year, sometimes in two different months. (Do not let these people near your home.)
There’s a time-tested logic puzzle known as the irresistible force paradox. Perhaps you’ve heard of it (maybe on that boxing episode of The Simpsons): What happens when an unstoppable force meets an immovable object?
The question itself defies logic (“unstoppable” and “immovable” things cannot coexist), but it’s fun to ponder, and particularly fun to apply to various scenarios. Back in high school, my friends and I enjoyed discussing one version: Could Green Lantern’s power ring (unstoppable force) be used to pick up Thor’s hammer (immovable object)? It was a creative thought exercise, although my own final answer (GL would never get the chance to lift Thor’s hammer, due to copyright conflicts between DC and Marvel) did suck some of the air from the balloon.
But this weekend, we got another display when something perceived as an unstoppable force… actually proved to be somewhat stoppable.
Continue reading “JK Rowling and the Limits of the Outrage Mob”
On Wednesday, the Academy announced that Kevin Hart would host the 2019 Oscars. On Thursday, Hart announced that he would not, in fact, be hosting.
What happened? Some folks had dug up some of Hart’s old tweets and stand-up bits (from around 2010, before his Hollywood breakout) in which he made some homophobic jokes. These tweets quickly spread across the Internet, and a backlash quickly grew against the Academy. Said Academy told Hart to apologize, and although he at first balked (saying that he’d come clean about these jokes in the past, and has changed his tune in the years since), increased pressure finally forced him to acquiesce, and he stepped down from his Oscar-hosting role.
As I’m writing this, we’ve just come off Halloween, the second-scariest holiday of the year. Now it’s time to move on to the first: Election Day. Yes, as those of you who watch cable news, browse online media, or stare at any screen for more than eight seconds a day probably know, America’s next annual election will be held November 6th. It is a “midterm” election, a term I assume is designed to diminish the already low voter turnout of college students.
Continue reading “My Thoroughly Accurate Predictions for the 2018 Election”
Welcome, one and all, to 2018.
It was almost a year ago that Mike contacted me and asked if I would like to take over as administrator of Critically Touched. As a regular writer and contributor to this website for several years, I was thrilled to accept his offer. But at the same time, I wasn’t sure if I could properly sustain my usual level of writing while also presiding over the site and forum itself (free server notwithstanding), in addition to keeping up the continual strains of college life and adulthood.
Two events recently occurred in the world of pop-culture that, on the surface, appear very similar.
The first instance occurred last week, when controversy ignited surrounding the upcoming Hellboy film. Ed Skrein, a white actor, had been cast as Ben Daimio, a character who (in the comics) has an Asian-American heritage. This hearkened back to the uproar that occurred just last month, when Mandy Patinkin, also a white actor, was announced as the replacement for the African-American star of the Broadway play Natasha, Pierre & the Great Comet of 1812. In response to these respective outcries, both actors have stepped down from their roles.
Hey, everyone!
It’s my honor to address you from this lofty new position. Continue reading “Same World, New Beginnings”
Hello, dear friends!
You may have noticed that things look a little different on the site now, and you’d be right! Continue reading “Turning the Page…”
If you’ve spent a fair deal of time around the Internet, chances are you’ve gotten into the occasional online discussion. And if you’ve gotten into the occasional online discussion, chances are you’ve gotten into the occasional online… debate. Welcome to the club, my friend. Debating topics which Continue reading “The Great Debate About… Great Debates”
Have you ever found yourself having an unpopular opinion about something popular? Perhaps you’re the only one in your workplace who doesn’t enjoy the coffee the machine serves there. Maybe you’re the only person in your dormitory who prefers slow, quiet music over the loud, heavy metal stuff which Continue reading “How to Be Unpopular”
Welcome to 2014!
In case you haven’t figured it out, this post is also welcoming you to the new Critically Touched Blog section!
So, how does this Blog section fit into the larger canvas that is Critically Touched? Well, its purpose is to allow all site writers to have an outlet to discuss a vari Continue reading “Happy New Year!”
